Failure to report suspicious activities fuels insecurity, says Oyo CP

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abimbola Olugbenga, has blamed the failure of citizens to report suspicious activities for the persistence of kidnapping and other security threats in parts of the country.

The police commissioner stated this on Monday, 8th June 2026, while leading journalists to a residential building in Araromi Quarters, Ayegun North, Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, where kidnappers had reportedly kept abducted victims, including Busayo John-Paul, younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons, before their rescue by police operatives.

Olugbenga said preliminary investigations showed that the kidnappers had repeatedly used the property as a hideout and detention facility for victims without any report from residents in the area.

According to him, some members of the community were aware of the activities but failed to alert security agencies.

“They have been bringing the abductees here. They bring them here, and people see them. Some even greet them and say ‘welcome.’ When people see such things and don’t speak up, what do you expect us to do?” he said.

The commissioner stressed that security agencies could only succeed in combating kidnapping, banditry and other crimes when citizens provide timely and credible information.

“If suspicious activities like this had been reported, none of this would have happened. We would have taken the necessary steps in good time,” he added.

He urged Nigerians to be more vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting unusual movements and suspicious activities in their communities, noting that intelligence from the public remains critical to effective crime prevention and response.